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GCSE results highlight class divide

Your childs future prospects could be determined by your postcode the latest government figures revel.

The2010 school league tables have just been published showing the best performing secondary schools in the Eastleigh area are situated in the most affluent areas.

The following chart shows Eastleigh ranked by the % of pupils achieving 5 A* -C grade GCSE’s and by points.

The chart compares this to the average asking price for property within half a mile of the school.

Students from the wealthiest catchment area – Thornden – have twice as many students achieving 5 top grade GCSE passes than pupils from schools in central Eastleigh.

The next chart shows the schools ranked again to show spending expressed as £’s spent per pupil.

It can be seen the that the largestamount went to schools in the least affluent areas and that in the case of the poorest performing school, Quilley, the extra investment has caused significant progress in top grades achieved – from 26% in 2007 to 44% in 2010

Thornden School in Hiltingbury is one of the best performing state schools in the county but it is oversubsrcibed and cannot accept students from poorer areas. Demand for housing in the Thornden catchment area has driven up property prices beyond the reach of most families in the Eastleigh area.

Thorden’s current status as ‘sought after school is a far cry from it’s orgin as North End Secondary Modern in Leigh Road – now Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service HQ (Thornden is an anagram of North End).

During the 1970’s the school was better known for it’s particiaption in an annual fight with Toynbee on Fleming Park rather than academic excellence!